Spindle mounting



Oct. 4, 1960 F. E. ROWE, JR 2,954,661

SPINDLE MOUNTING Filed Sept. 25, 1957 &1

F1694" ATTORNEY 27b FRANK E4 ROWENJR twister frames.

United States Patent SPINDLE MOUNTING Filed Sept. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 686,130

20 Claims. (Cl. 57-132) This invention relates to mounting or supporting spindles used in spinning and twister frames, and more particularly is directed to an improved spindle mounting of the type wherein the spindle is adjustably movable for centering and plumbing thereof through the employment of a relatively thin-walled tubular laterally movable base member and a pair of plumb adjustment seats having concentric spherical surfaces.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 601,281, filed July 31, 1956, and now abandoned.

In U.S. Patent 2,289,903, to L. M. Cotchett dated July 14, 1942, there is disclosed a spindle mounting which is particularly adapted to provide for aligning and plumbing of spindles such as are employed in the spinning and This spindle mounting employs an arrangement for plumbing which includes a sleeve-like or tubular laterally movable base having upper and lower spherical concentric seating surfaces, the lower of which is formed on the relatively thin-walled tubular lower end of the base. I have found that due to the inadequate seating area presented by the very small lower end seating surface of embodiments constructed according to this patent the plumb securing or locking arrangement is ineffective to hold the spindle in a desired plumbed position under practical working conditions obtaining when the yarn tube or bobbin is removed for dofling or the piecing up of a broken thread.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved spindle mounting of the general type disclosed in the Cotchett patent and which facilely overcomes this plumb position maintaining difficulty.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved spindle mounting for spinning and twisting frames of the general type wherein a pair of concentric seating surfaces are formed and having a supporting member at least one end of which is comparatively thinwalled and which will in itself present only a relatively small area for formation of an end seat.

Still a further object is to provide an arrangement which is adaptable to employment with spindle mountings of a type similar to that disclosed in said Gotchett patent and which will obviate the difiiculties of maintaining plumb adjustment as experienced with this previous and presently widely employed mounting,

Briefly describing one embodiment according to the invention, such is similar to that found in the Cotchett patent in that a supplemental base member having a relatively thin tubular or sleeve-like lower end is laterally adjustably mounted Within an aperture formed in a spindle rail. Within the supplemental base and extending beneath the lower thin-walled end of the base is a spindle blade which is movable angularly about a center point which is also the center point for two concentric seating surfaces, one of which is formed at the upper end of the supplemental base. Differing however, from the Cotchett mounting, there is provided an axially apertured end cap which is suitably disposed on the lower end of the thin- Patented Oct. 4, 1960 walled portion of the supplemental base. This end cap preferably has a radially inwardly directed lip formed thereon which engages the lower longitudinal end of the supplemental base thereby establishing the exact seated position of the cap when disposed on the supplemental base. The end cap in turn has formed on its lower end portion a convex spherical seat which, when the end cap is seated in place at the end of the supplemental base, has a common center with, or in other words is concentric with, the spherical seat formed at the upper end of the supplemental base. A washer having a complementary concave seat area is disposed adjacent and in contact with the convex end surface of the end cap in a similar manner to the engagement between the washer and convex end surface formed directly on the lower end of the supplemental base of the Cotchett patent. Suitable means such as a nut are employed to tighten the connection between the spindle and the washer of the supplemental base and end cap in orderto secure the spindle in a desired plumbed position. By virtue of this change in construction it is possible to employ the general construction of the Cotchett patent, yet overcome the disadvantages found therein relating to the ditficulty of maintaing a secure plumbed position of the spindle. This is of considerable importance in that by this improvement one may continue to use :a relatively thin- -walled lower end portion for the supplemental base and also have a large lower plumb adjustment seating area for the engagement by a concave surface securing unit such as a washer and nut or the like. This permits the spindle to be adjusted to a completely side plumbed position while providing a large and adequate area of contact between the end cap and the concavely' surfaced washer, thereby enabling one to obtain a completely secure plumbed position for the spindle. While one might conceivably enlarge the lower end of the supplemental base in the Cotchett apparatus, such is not normally desirable in that it would require the aperture in the spindle rail to be likewise enlarged in order to permit the same lateral centering adjustment and might also necessitate the enlargement of the flanged portion of the upper end of the supplemental base in order to maintain such in secure seated engagement with the spindle rail. This would be of even more particular disadvantage when the mounting construction includes other elements, such as an additional sleeve member and/or vibration damping washer,

etc., interposed into part of the space between the periphery of the rail aperture and the tubular sup- Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent to one from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: a

Figure 1 is an elevation view in partial section illustrating a spindle mounting constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the end cap of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation view in partial section of an application of the invention in a modified spindle construction,

Figure 4 is an elevation view in partial section of a further modification according to this invention.

, includes a normally stationary spindle supporting memberhaving a shank 12 and base 13 which are adjustably mounted in a tubular supplemental base 15 having an annular flange 15' formed at its upper end, and which is laterally adjustable in an oversized aperture 17 in spindle rail 19 in order to provide for centering of the spindle. Supplemental base 15 is secured to the spindle rail 19 in the desired lateral position by a nut 16 threadedly engaged therewith. A concave spherical seat 21 is formed on the flanged upper end 15' of the supplemental base, which is engaged by the lower convex surface of spindle base 13, each of these engaging surfaces having the same radius of curvature, with the common center being at a desired point C lying on the center line of spindle 11.

The spindle 11 is plumbed by angular movement thereof, including shank 12 and base 13, about a horizontal axis passing through the point C, and is then secured in the desired plumbed position through the medium of a nut 25 and washer 27, which washer may be either internally threaded on the bounding surface forming its central spindle receiving aperture as shown in Figure l or unthreaded as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In the Cotchett device the washer has a concave surface'formed thereon which engages directly with the convex end surface at the lower threaded tubular end of the supplemental base, the center of curvature being the same as that of the spindle base seat curvature.

gagement provided between the washer face and the tubular shank end is insufiicient to hold the spindle against slippage out of its plumbed position. In the improvements shown in Figures 1 and 2 an end cap 31 having a lower radially inwardly extending lip 33 is secured as V by screw threads onto the lower end of the supplemen- It has been I ,found in practice however that the limited surface enplumbed position. It will thus be noted that the inven- Y tion does not reside merely in the provision of a larger seating area for the lower convex seat, but lies in the provision of a novel combination employing an additional element which yields a relatively large lower convex seat area, and which .is highly successful in providing a secure plumb-locking arrangement for the spindle while readily permitting one to adapt the prior art Cotchett spindle mounting substantially unmodified, if desired, in

its other aspects.

The screw-on end cap 31 of Figures 1 and 2 may be knurled or smooth, but is preferably provided with flats 32 or the like formed on its lateral periphery in order to permit the tightening and otherwise adjusting thereof as by a wrench or other hand tool.

While the embodiment of Figure 1 is shown without vibration damping means, it will be obvious that such may be employed, in accordance with conventional practice, if so desired, in which case rubber washers or the like might suitably be employed in the mounting arrangement, as sh wn for instance in Figure 3. In accordance with one conventional construction for the supplemental base, such is comprised of two relatively movable base members 15a and 15a, having upper and lower washers 41, 43 of rubber or other resilient material removably secured between the outer member 15a and the spindle rail 19a. Constructions of this type for'thefsupplemental base and cushioning means being old zperl'se, such will 21 not be further described herein, this construction being shown merely to illustrate the application of the invention to one of the most prevalent spindle constructions presently employed, and to point up its desirability as employed therein. As will be apparent from the drawing, the end cap 310 is mounted on the lower end of supplemental base member 15a similarly to the embodiment of Figure 1.

In a further modified embodiment according to the invention as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the end cap '31:) is formed without internal threads, andis held in secure end-seated relation on the lower end of the sup plemental base member 15a through the medium of the adjacent complementary centrally apertured washer 27b and lock nut 25]). The inner cylindrical surface of the end cap 31b thus is facilely slidably removably seated over the conventional threaded lower end of the supplemental base member 1512, with its lip 33 being seated against the lower end of the supplemental base member 15 similarly to the seating of the lip 33 in Figures 1 and 3. This end cap arrangement may be utilized in connection with either of the spindle embodiments as shown in Figures 1 and 3 as may be necessary or desirable or with other spindle arrangements of this type as may be desirable but is particularly advantageous in spindle mounting arrangements as shown in Figure 4 wherein upper and lower rubber damping washers are utilized and the arrangement is such that the exposed threaded area at the lower end of the supplemental base member 15 is relatively small. With such a small threaded area it becomes quite difiicult to form an inexpensive end cap with internal threads therein suitable for gripping the end threads of the supplemental base member 15b. In solving this problem it has been found advantageous to omit the threadswithin the end cap, preferably providing a smooth cylindrical internal surface for a sliding fit by the end cap onto the lower end of the supplemental base member 15b, with full seating of the lip 35b being effected through the tightening of the end lock nut 25b and the intermediate Washer 27b. As seen particularly in Figure 5, and as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in this end cap arrangement the flats 32 (Figure 2) or other gripping means may be and are advantageously omitted. Thus, the end cap of the arrangement of Figures 4 and 5 lends itself to considerable ease and simplicity of manufacture, as well as case of assembly and disassembly in the spindle arrangement.

As will be apparent, the improved mounting may be employed either for live spindles, as shown, or for dead spindles.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that varirom the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific preferred embodiment disclosed herein for illustrative purposes only.

I claim:

1. An improved mounting arrangement for textile spindles, comprising a tubular base having one end thereof spherically concave, the opposite end of said base being extenally threaded, an internally threaded end cap threadedly secured on said opposite end and having an outer end surface spherically convex, said concave and convex surfaces having the same center of curvature, a spindle structure having a base and a shank end, said spindle base having a convex surface of complementary curvature to said concave surface on said tubular base, saidshank being laterally adjustably extending through said tubular base and said end ca a locking member having a spherically concave surface of complementary curvature to said cap convex surface, and means removably securing said spherically concave locking member in locking relation against the convex end surface of said cap.

2. An arrangement according to claim -1 wherein said cap has a radially inwardly extending lip the axially outer end surface of which forms a portion of said convex surface and the axially inner surface of which engages and seats against the end of said tubular base, whereby the axial seated position of said cap is established.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said locking member is a washer.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said cap has flats formed on its periphery for gripping and securing action by a jawed tool.

5. An improved mounting for textile spindles, comprising a base having an aperture therein, a tubular supplemental base having one end thereof spherically concave, an end cap removably secured onto the opposite end of said supplemental base and having a spherically convex outer end surface of larger area than the end surface area of the adjacent end of said tubular base, said concave and convex surfaces having the same center of curvature, said aperture being of larger size than the intermediate portion and said opposite end portion of said tubular supplemental base, said tubular supplemental base being laterally adjustably mounted within said aperture, securing means for securing said tubular base in a selected lateral position within said aperture, a spindle structure having a base and a shank end, said spindle base having a convex surface of complementary curvature to said concave surface on said tubular base, said shank end being plumbably adjustably extending through said tubular base and end cap, a locking member having a spherically concave surface of complementary curvature to said cap convex surface, and means adapted to removably secure said spherically concave locking member in locked relation against said convex end surface of said cap.

6. An arrangement according to claim wherein said tubular supplemental base has a radially extending an nular flange formed at its concave end, the remainder of said tubular base being of substantially cylindrical shape with at least a portion thereof being externally threaded, said base securing means being threaded for complementary engagement with said cylindrical threaded portion of said tubular supplemental base, said end cap being threadedly secured onto the end of said tubular supplemental base.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said end cap has flats formed on its periphery for gripping by a jawed tool.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said locking member is a washer, said securing means for said locking member being a nut removably thrcadedly secured on said tubular base.

9. An improved mounting arrangement for textile spindles, comprisinga tubular base having one end thereof spherically concave, an end cap removably mounted on the opposite end of said base and having an outer end surface spherically convex and of larger area than the end surface of the adjacent end of said tubular base, said concave and convex surfaces having the same center of curvature, a spindle structure having a base and a shank end, said spindle base having a convex surface of complementary curvature to said concave surface on said tubular base, said shank being laterally adjustably extending through said tubular base and said end cap, an apertured member having a spherically concave surface of complementary curvature to said cap convex surface, and means removably securing said spherically concave apertured member in locking relation against the convex end surface of said cap.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said end cap is internally threaded, said opposite end of said base being externally threaded, and said end cap being threadedly secured on said opposite end of said tubular base.

11. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said end cap is slidably removably mounted on said opposite end of said tubular base.

12. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said end cap has a radially inwardly extending lip the axially outer end surface of which forms a portionof said convex surface and the axially inner surface of which engages and seats against the end of said tubular base, whereby the axial seated position of said end cap is established.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said spherically concave surfaced apertured member is a washer.

14. An improved mounting for textille spindles, comprising a base having an aperture therein, a tubular supplemental base having one end thereof spherically concave, an end cap removably disposed on the opposite end of said supplemental base and having a. spherically convex outer end surface of larger area than the end surface area of the adjacent end of said tubular base, said concave and convex surfaces having the same center of curvature, said aperture being of larger size than the intermediate portion and said opposite end portion of said tubular supplemental base, said tubular supplemental base being laterally adjustably mounted within said aperture, securing means for securing said tubular base in a selected laterial position within said aperture, a spindle structure having a base and a shank end, said spindle base having a convex surface of complementary curvature to said concave surface on said tubular base, said shank end being plumbably adjustably extending through said tubular base and end cap, a locking member having a spherically concave surface of complementary curvature to said cap convex surface, and means adapted to removably secure said spherically concave locking member in locked relation against said convex end surface of said cap.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said end cap is internally threaded and is removably threadedly secured onto said opposite end of said supplemental base.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said end cap is longitudinally slidably mounted on said opposite end of said supplemental base, the internal surface of said end cap being substantially cylindrical and fitted over said opposite end of said supplemental base, said end cap having a radially inward extending lip the axially outer surface of which forms a portion of said convex surface and the axially inner surface of which engages and seats against said tubular base, whereby the axial seated position of said cap is established, said axial seated position being maintained by said lip, said locking member, and said locking member securing means.

17. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said tubular supplemental base has a radially extending annular flange formed at its concave end, the remainder of said tubular base being of substantially cylindrical shape with at least a portion thereof being externally threaded, said base securing means being threaded for complementary engagement with said cylindrical threaded portion of said tubular supplemental base, said end cap being threadedly secured onto the end of said tubular supplemental base.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17 wherein said locking member is a washer, said securing means for said locking member being a nut removably threadedly secured on the lower end of said tubular base.

19. In a mounting arrangement for spinning and twister spindles comprising a spindle rail having an aperture therethrough, a supplemental base adjustable laterally in said aperture, means for clamping said supplemental base in its adjusted position on said rail, a spindle structure including a spindle base mounted on said supplcmental base for angular adjustment to bring it into a plumb position, and spaced concentric spherical surface means for securing said spindle base in said plumb position, said last named means including a centrally apentured washer having a spherically concave surface, and securing means for securing said washer in locked relation adjacent the lower end of said supplemental base, the improvement including a centrally apertured end cap removably mounted on the lower 'end'of said supplemental base and having an outer end surface spherically convex and of larger area than the end surface of the adjacent end of said supplemental base, said end cap convex surface having substantially the same radius of 5 curvature as said concave surface of said washer, said end cap being disposed in removably seated relation at the lower end of said supplemental base, and the concave surface of said washer being selectively removably held in frictional locking engagement with Said convex surface of said end cap, said spindle extending down through the central aperture in said apertured Washer and end cap.

20. In the improved mounting arrangement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said end 8 cap has a radially inwardly extending lip the axially outer end surface of which forms a portion of said .convex surface and the axially inner surface of which .engages and seats against the end of saidsupplemental base, whereby the axial seated position of said cap on said supplemental base is established.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cotchett July 14, 1942 2,663,138 Green Dec. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS f 7,767 Great Britain of 1910 

